Number license-tag.



W. C. LYON.

NUMBER LICENSE TAG.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT, s. 1915.

1 9 1 68,2 1 7 Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

hwy/0101mm adaptation of parts,

WCE C. LYON, OF HYAT'ISVILLE, MARYLAND.

NUMBER LlcENsE-TAG.

inseam. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 8, 1915 Serial No. 49,593.

ings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in numbertags and it relates more particularly to tags which are designating thenumber of the particular machine to which the tag is attached.

The invention has for its object the provision, in combination with thenumber tag, of an independent interchangeable date plate adapted to bereadily attached to the number tag, the date plate being preferably of acolor contrasting with the color of the tag to which it is attached.

To this end and to such others as the invention may pertain the sameconsists in the peculiar arrangement, combination, and

all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the accompanyingdrawings and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form apart of thisspecification and in which drawin'gs c:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a number tag constructed in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the seal used insecuring the date plate to the tag. Fig. 3 is a plan view of therdateplate. Figs. 4 and sections showing the means of attaching the view of asoft metal rivet employed in se-- plate to the tag. Fig. 6 is anenlarged side curing the date plate to the number tag.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by numerals, 1designates the number tag such as commonly employed for designating thenumber of the motor car or other vehicle to which the tag isattached,together with an indication of the state and 5- are enlarged detailedofiicial seal the date or year for which the tag is issued. This numbertag is of metal and the background as well as the colors of the numbersthereon are subject to regulations, imposed by the state authorities, itbeing customary to change the colors from year to year in order that thecolor of the tag or figures contained thereon may indicate at once, theyear for which the tag was issued.

An essential object of the present invention resides in the provisionofmeans whereby the number tags may be used continuv Patented Jan. ilil,1916..

ously and, providing an independent plate 1 having a background of acolor contrasting with the color of the tag to which it is attached,which plate can be readily detachably affixed to the face of the numbertag and secured thereto by an oflicial seal, the

used upon motor vehicles for the purpose of breaking of which seal wouldbe necessary,

in removing the plate from the number tag.

2 represents the date plate which, if desired, can be made reversiblehaving its opposite sides provided with different dates. The said dateplate 2 is provided with openings 3, 3, one of which openings is sopositioned as to register with a like opening up therefrom as shownclearly in Fig. 1 of v the drawings. The date plate having been placedin" position with one of its corners 1 locked with the struck-up keeper4, is secured to the number tag by means of a soft metal rivet 5 passedthrough the registering openings in the number tag and platerespectively as indicated at 6 and, is headed upon the face of the dateplate andrear face of the number tag as indicated in'Fig. 4 of thedrawings. The heads of the rivet upon both of its ends have impressedthereon the of the State. And as it will be at once noted this oflicialseal must be destroyed should an attempt be made to remove the platefrom the number tag and the breaking of the seal would of courseindicate at once that the plate had been removed or that an attempt hadbeen made to remove it.

From the foregolng description of the construction and assemblage of theparts, the use of the invention andthe advantages gained thereby Will beat once evident. It is the universal custom of the various States tofurnish the owners of motor vehicles Which are required by laW to betaxed, with a number tag, this said tag indicating the tax has been paidand that all requirements of the laW have beencomplied With andindicating the number of the particular vehicle to which the tag isattached. In addition to indicating the number, the tag also indicatesthe State in Which the license is obtained and also the year for Whichthe license has been granted. The face of the number tag has abackground of a distinctive color decided upon, for the year for 'Whichthe tag is to be used and, it has heretofore been customary in order todetermine the year for Which the tag is issued to require that thenumbers or figures displayed upon the face of the tag should be subjectto regulations as to color, size, etc.,

and, it has accordingly been found neces sary to remove the tag at theend of the fiscal year for Which the license Was paid and p tosubstitute therefor a number tag of a having a background of a colordifferent color both as to background and indicating numbers, letters,etc., thereon.

As the furnishing of tags from year to year has necessarily involved (inview of the great number of tags issued), a verygreat expense, it Willbe at once noted that, by indicating the date upon a separable plate,contrasting With the background of the number tag so as to indicate byreason of this contrast in colors, the year for Which the tag Wasissued, that the number tag can be used for an indefinite period, theexpense involved by the State, in renewing the tag from year to year,after the initial expense involved in the purchase of the number tagwould be reduced to the nominal cost of the date plates. It Will also benoted that, in case the date plates are provided With dates upon theopposite sides, that the same date plate can be used for two successiveyears, it be ing simply necessary that the plates should be remoi ed andreattached tothe number tag so as to present the opposite face of theplate. The ofiicial seal of the State being employed in securing theplate to the tag, and the impression of the seal being upon both ends ofthe rivet, adequate provision is had against the unauthorized removal ofthe date plate from the tag.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim to be new anddesire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A main plate having a fixed color andbearing identification characters, in combination With an auxiliaryplate, the opposite faces of Which are of different colors and bothdiffering from the color of the main plate and each of the faces bearinga fiscal date, said. auxiliary 'plate being adapted to be superimposedupon and secured in contact with the main plate so as to present one-ofthe fiscal dates upon the auxiliary plate, substantially as described.

2. A main plate having a fixed color and bearing identificationcharacters, in combination With an auxiliary plate, the opposite facesof Which are of different colors and both differing from the color ofthe main plate and each of the faces bearing a fiscal date, saidauxiliary plate being adapted to be superimposed upon and permanentlysecured in contact With the main plate so as to present either of thefiscal dates upon the auxiliary and described. p

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

WALLACE O. LYON.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN H. HoUGH, J. W. SHERWOOD.

plate, substantially as shown

